Erdoğan Accuses Israel of Genocide, Draws Rebuke from Visiting German CDU Leader Friedrich Merz
ANKARA, Türkiye – October 30, 2025 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a charge swiftly contradicted by visiting German opposition leader Friedrich Merz. The stark disagreement occurred during Merz’s official visit to Ankara,focused heavily on the escalating conflict and potential avenues for de-escalation. The exchange underscores the widening diplomatic rift over the handling of the Gaza war and highlights differing perspectives on international law and the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
The public divergence between Erdoğan and Merz,chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU),signals a complex dynamic in German-Turkish relations as both nations navigate the geopolitical fallout from the conflict.The visit, occurring amid heightened tensions, aimed to foster dialog but rather exposed essential disagreements on the core issues. the situation impacts regional stability, the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, and the delicate balance of power within NATO, where both Türkiye and Germany are key members.
During a joint press conference,Erdoğan stated Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to “nothing less than genocide,” criticizing the international community’s response as insufficient. He further asserted that Israel was targeting civilians indiscriminately and violating international law.
Merz, though, firmly rejected the genocide accusation. “I clearly distance myself from this assessment,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of the situation and upholding Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. He acknowledged the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians but maintained that equating Israel’s military operations to genocide was inaccurate and counterproductive to finding a peaceful resolution.
The CDU leader’s visit also included discussions regarding a potential arms deal between the United Kingdom and Türkiye for 20 eurofighter Typhoon jets, a topic reportedly raised by British Labor leader Keir Starmer during a separate visit to Ankara.Moreover, the Gaza war dominated talks, with Merz seeking to understand Türkiye’s position and explore potential avenues for humanitarian aid and diplomatic mediation. Notably, Merz did not meet with representatives from Turkish opposition parties during his trip.
